Rep. Grayson to file bill that would restrict government surveillance

January 14, 2014|By Mark K. Matthews, Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, said Tuesday that he plans to file legislation this week that would sharply curtail government surveillance of U.S. citizens and foreigners, including programs run by the secretive National Security Agency.

As is typical of the bombastic lawmaker, the one-page bill comes with a catchy title: the "Big Brother Is Not Watching You Act."

The measure would force the administration to adopt a slew of changes — 46 in all — that were recommended last month by a presidential advisory group.

Among them: restrictions on the surveillance of foreign leaders, greater transparency of U.S. data-gathering programs and an end to the government practice of collecting "bulk" telephone data — such as the time and date of phone calls.

"When you ask people for their advice, you run the risk that you may have to take it," Grayson said of the presidential panel.

The bill's passage, however, faces a tough climb.

Though the issue of domestic surveillance has united Republicans and Democrats before, Grayson said he has yet to find any co-sponsors.

On Friday, President Barack Obama is expected to deliver a speech at the U.S. Justice Department that will outline the administration's response to the recommendations and Obama's own overhaul plan.

The White House, however, has declined to follow at least one of the suggested changes.

Currently, the same person — Gen. Keith B. Alexander — heads both the NSA and the military's cybercommand. In its report, the presidential committee recommended that the administration separate the positions while giving a civilian the chance to run the NSA.

But Obama has rejected the idea. Administration officials would not comment on Grayson's pending legislation. Grayson said his bill is intended to prevent the administration from cherry-picking only the recommendations it wants to follow.

"They are not just 46 ideas but rather a complete program to eliminate the possibility that [U.S. intelligence agencies] will infringe on the rights of American citizens," he said. "We don't have to compromise our freedom in order to remain safe."